Head-to-head
2026 Mazda CX-90 vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Too close to call: Mazda CX-90 91.3 vs Toyota Grand Highlander 89.4 with these weights. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4 and it flips.
A
2026 Mazda CX-90
The 2026 Mazda CX-90 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and hybrid large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CX-90 4WD, is…
vs
C2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Grand Highla…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Mazda CX-90
Toss-upToo close to call: Mazda CX-90 91.3 vs Toyota Grand Highlander 89.4 with these weights. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4 and it flips.
Fuel & range 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander leads by 36.8
Tech & comfort 2026 Mazda CX-90 leads by 31
Safety 2026 Mazda CX-90 leads by 15.4
| Category · weight | 2026 Toyota Grand Highlanderoverall 89.4 | 2026 Mazda CX-90overall 91.3 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 94.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 63.2 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 83.5 | 98.9 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 81 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 95.7 | 98.4 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 69 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 89.4 | 91.3 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Grand Highlander: base trim LE FWD · Mazda CX-90: base trim 3.3 Turbo Select AWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4 and the answer flips.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Mazda CX-90 wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (15 against 49 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (29 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 79).
Where the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander answers
- It costs $1,300 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,850 against $3,150).
- It is rated 36 combined against 26 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 8 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $41,660 | $39,300 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 2,393 cc | 3,283 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Turbo | e-SKYACTIV G 3.3L Inline 6 Turbocharged |
| Fuel injection system | D-4S | Electrically Controlled Fuel Injection |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 265 hp | 280 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 332 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 21 mpg | 23 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 24 mpg | 25 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 28 mpg | 28 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.329 | 3.692 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | Direct Shift 8AT | manual |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8 in | 8 in |
| Overall height | 70.1 in | 68.3 in |
| Overall length | 201 in | 201 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in | 78.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 116 in | 123 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 97.5 cu-ft | 74.2 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 57.9 cu-ft | 40 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 20.6 cu-ft | 14.9 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 153 cu-ft | 142 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.5 in | 39.7 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.2 in | 39.3 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.2 in | 36.9 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.7 in | 41.7 in |
| Second-row legroom | 39.5 in | 39.4 in |
| Third-row legroom | 33.5 in | 30.4 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,290 lbs | 4,846 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,290 lbs | 4,846 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,040 lbs | 6,854 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut suspension with stabilizer bar | Double-Wishbone |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link suspension with stabilizer bar | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS); electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion | Rack and Pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19 ft | 38.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 340 mm | 328 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | Electric parking brake |
| Rear brake diameter | 339 mm | 350 mm |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 19 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 8.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 265/55 R19 M+S |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.8 gal | 18.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Mazda Connected Services |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 60.2 in | 59.2 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.8 in | 58.1 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 57.5 in | 53.3 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
119 features · differences first, then sharedSafety24 differ · 34 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) —Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) | std | — |
| Eight airbags —driver airbag, front passenger airbag, driver knee airbag, seat cushion airbag (passenger), front side airbags, curtain shield airbags | std | — |
| Eight airbags —driver airbag, front passenger airbag, driver knee airbag, seat cushion airbag (passenger), front side airbags, curtain shield airbags | std | — |
| Rear View Monitor (dynamic guide lines) | std | — |
| Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control (TCS) and Trailer Stability Control | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors and tethers on outboard second-row seats and tether anchor on third-row seats | std | — |
| 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger seatbelts | std | — |
| Adjustable front seatbelt shoulder anchors and driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters | std | — |
| Auto-hold Function | — | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitoring with Vehicle Exit Warning | — | std |
| Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning | std | — |
| Driver Attention Alert | — | std |
| Eight airbags —driver airbag, front passenger airbag, driver knee airbag, seat cushion airbag (passenger), front side airbags, curtain shield airbags | std | — |
| Hill Descent Control | — | std |
| LATCH system - rear seat (2nd row) child safety seat lower anchors & upper tethers | — | std |
| LATCH system - rear seat (3rd row) child safety anchor top upper tethers | — | std |
| Rear Seat Alert | — | std |
| Rear View Monitor (static guide lines) | — | std |
| Rear-passenger seatbelt reminder | std | — |
| Roll Stability Control | — | std |
| Smart Brake Support (Automatic Emergency Braking) | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) (individual tires) | std | — |
| Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go | std | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | std |
| Lane Departure Warning System | std | std |
| Lane-keep Assist | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) | std | std |
| Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control (TCS) and Trailer Stability Control | std | std |
| Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control (TCS) and Trailer Stability Control | std | std |
| High Beam Control (HBC) | std | std |
| Hill Launch Assist | std | std |
| Engine immobilizer anti-theft system | std | std |
Infotainment11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Seven USB-C ports (one media port and six charging ports) and two 12V outlets | std | — |
| 10.25" Full Color Center Display | — | std |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | std | — |
| 6-speaker audio system | std | — |
| 8-speaker sound system | — | std |
| Alexa Built-In | — | std |
| Android Auto™ integration (wired) | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay™ integration (wired) | — | std |
| Mazda Connect 4G LTE Wi-Fi powered by AT&T | — | std |
| Paddle Shifters | — | std |
| USB Inputs - Center Console Type C x 4 (Front x 2 and Rear x 2) | — | std |
Convenience4 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Height-adjustable power liftgate with jam protection | std | — |
| Power door locks with shift-linked automatic lock/unlock feature | std | — |
| Power Rear Liftgate with programmable height adjustment | — | std |
| 12V power outlet | — | std |
| Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System | std | std |
| Power Windows with one-touch auto up/down feature (4) | std | std |
Climate1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Row AC vents | — | std |
| Air conditioning - automatic climate control operation with three zones | std | std |
Seating9 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd-row bench seats with 60/40 split fold-down reclining | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed front- second- and third-row seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| 3rd row seats - 3 seats (60/40 split fold-down) | — | std |
| 4-way manual front passenger seat | — | std |
| 8-passenger seating with 60/40 split, sliding and reclining fold-down second-row bench seats; 60/40 split, fold-down third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | std | — |
| 8-way power adjustable driver's seat w/ power lumbar support (without memory) | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed front- second- and third-row seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| Max Seating Capacity | — | std |
| Seat Material - Leatherette | — | std |
| 8-way power adjustable driver's seat w/ power lumbar support and 2-position memory | std | std |
Interior10 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 13 cup and bottle holders | std | — |
| 7-inch TFT LCD meter display | — | std |
| Combination meter with analog gauges and 7-in. color Multi-Information Display (MID) with fuel economy, Driver Assist, vehicle/trip information, and warning messages | std | — |
| Interior Mid Panel - Hard Black | — | std |
| Silver-painted dashboard trim and matte gray metallic door trim | std | — |
| Soft-touch roll-top center console with removable utility tray | std | — |
| Steering wheel - leather-wrapped w/ bright ring decoration | — | std |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Floor mats - carpeted front, 2nd-row and 3rd-row | — | std |
| Trip computer - Odometer, Trip meter A & B | — | std |
| Rearview mirror - manual day/night | std | std |
| Sun visors - dual covered vanity mirrors w/ illumination | std | std |
| Storage - overhead console with sunglasses holder | std | std |
Exterior26 differ · 30 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED headlights | std | — |
| 18-in. 5-spoke silver wheels | std | — |
| 19X8.5J inch aluminum alloy wheels with Silver Metallic Finish | — | std |
| 265/55 R19 tires w/ Alloy - Silver | — | std |
| Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield and front side windows | std | — |
| Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield and front side windows | std | — |
| Badging - AWD | — | std |
| Badging - Inline6 - Chrome | — | std |
| Black front lower bumper | std | — |
| Black rear lower bumper | std | — |
| Black-painted front grille | std | — |
| Color-keyed outside door handles | std | — |
| Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature | std | — |
| Front Grill Mesh - Honeycomb - with Black Finish | — | std |
| Headlights - LED with Auto-Leveling | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lamp | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield washer and backup camera washer | std | — |
| Rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light | std | — |
| Rear window defogger with timer | — | std |
| Roof Rails - aluminum with satin chrome finish | — | std |
| Signature Wing - Chrome | — | std |
| Wheel arch Molding - Black | — | std |
| Windshield Wiper De-Icer | std | — |
| Windshield Wipers - Rain-Sensing, Variable-Intermittent | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield defogger | std | — |
| Rear Roof Spoiler - Body Color | — | std |
| LED taillights | std | std |
| Side mirrors - driver and passenger heated | std | std |
| Privacy glass - rear side windows and rear liftgate glass | std | std |
| Spare Tire Type - Temporary | std | std |
Powertrain8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | — |
| e-SKYACTIV® G 3.3L Inline 6 Turbocharged engine | — | std |
| Electric Parking Brake (EPB) | — | std |
| M Hybrid Boost (48V Mild Hybrid) | — | std |
| Mazda intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive): Sports/Off Road | — | std |
| Off-Road Traction Assist | — | std |
| Transmission, SKYACTIV®-Drive 8-Speed AT with manual-shift mode | — | std |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front Double Wishbone Suspension | — | std |
| Independent rear multi-link suspension with stabilizer bar | — | std |
| Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) | — | std |
Cargo2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Storage - cargo area storage boxes and under floor storage | — | std |
| Towing Capacity up to 3,500 lbs. | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Grand Highlander
Safety Signal 79 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 4
Owner complaints 49 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (15), Structure (10), Engine (8)
Top recalls
- high Steering 26V598000 · 617 vehicles
- high Power Train 26V437000 · 5,408 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- minor Equipment 26V179000 · 8,230 vehicles
Mazda CX-90
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 15 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (9), Unspecified (3), Steering (3)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Mazda CX-903.3 Turbo Select AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $41,660 (base trim) | $39,300 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $41,660 – $59,575 14 trims | $39,300 – $58,700 9 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | PHEV, HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Grand Highlander Hybrid | CX-90 4WD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 36 | 26 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,850 | $3,150 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 2 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Mazda CX-90?
Too close to call: Mazda CX-90 91.3 vs Toyota Grand Highlander 89.4 with these weights. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Mazda CX-90 scores 91.3 and the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander 89.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Mazda CX-90?
The 2026 Mazda CX-90 starts lower — $39,300 against $41,660, a gap of $2,360 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Mazda CX-90?
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls. 2026 Mazda CX-90: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander and the 2026 Mazda CX-90?
Where the 2026 Mazda CX-90 wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (15 against 49 filed with NHTSA), lists more comfort and tech equipment (29 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 79). Where the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander answers: it costs $1,300 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,850 against $3,150) and is rated 36 combined against 26 (EPA mpg or MPGe). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 8 seats.